If there’s one word to describe the first impressions of Seven Paintings Ubud by The Wonderspace, most would say unassuming. There are obvious nods to the restaurant’s name in the replica of the Mona Lisa at the head of each table, and in the fact that plates are replaced by canvases with artwork projected on them. The setup, shrouded in black draperies, evokes the feeling of stepping into a black box theatre; one will probably leave entertained, but go in thinking it’s better to set expectations on the lower end. But those assumptions will quickly be broken.
Even before the first dish arrives, diners can catch a glimpse of the whimsical of the marvels to come. Scattered around the table are trinkets that serve as more than just table setting, concealing the curiosities that are set to unfold throughout the seven courses. The padlocked chest, for example, hides the first appetiser, Arancini De Coppa, served on mannequin hands as an homage to Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam.
The rest of the courses are also inspired by famous artists across different eras of art movements, each presented in unique ways. British street artist Banksy’s Girl with Balloon is transliterated as a dish of Tomatoes Bresaola with stracciatella. Meanwhile, Pablo Picasso’s The Weeping Woman makes an appearance on edible nori atop brined salmon sashimi, green grapes, and pickled daikon bathed in truffle ponzu for the Salmon Crudo. An even more unmissable reference is Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Can, which arrives as a crunchy pastry shell hiding the entrée: an impossibly tender braised beef cheek sitting over a bed of creamy cauliflower purée.
Other dishes capture the artists’ essence instead of being direct recreations. Take the Bouquet of Greens, which encourages guests to unleash their inner Jackson Pollock to create an abstract painting on their slabs with four vibrantly coloured and flavoured salad dressings. The Salvador Dalí-inspired potato soufflé also leans into the surrealist movement the artist is known for, blending the pillowy dessert with the theatrics of spritzing truffle oil on vanilla gelato with a perfume bottle, while fog billows from a bowl of dry ice.
First-timers may not know where to look, but it shouldn’t be a concern. Throughout the two-hour dinner (which are appropriately called shows), the audiovisual projections blasted on the tables and walls provide diners with cues of what to do next. If that’s not enough, staff members are more than ready to act as a curator-cum-tour guide with clear instructions on how to navigate this immersive Dinemation experience with ease and utmost enjoyment. And, with only 16 seats each show, no guest will be left unattended.
To fully enjoy the breadth of what Seven Paintings Ubud has to offer, it’s best to check expectations at the front desk and come in with no inhibitions. Here, diners are encouraged to play with their food, get messy, and abandon the unspoken rule that requires fine dining to be prim and proper.
- The Dinemation experience combines fine dining with an immersive storytelling narrative.
- Seats only 16 people each evening for an intimate setting.
- Each of the seven courses is inspired by revolutionary artists from different eras and parts of the world.
Exquisite Taste Volume 50
Seven Paintings Ubud
by The Wonderspace
Kaamala Resort Ubud by iNi ViE Hospitality
Jalan Bisma, Ubud
Bali 80571, Indonesia
T: (+62) 81237339353
